Most homeowners in America are uneasy around spiders, and when we see them in our homes our first instinct is to call the exterminator. There are 27 known spider species in Arizona; three of them are known to be potentially dangerous to humans. Although spiders have a bad reputation from popular culture and scary stories, they can actually be quite beneficial to humans. Here is a list of the most common spiders found in Arizona.

Cobweb Spiders

Cobweb spiders include a wide range of small and medium-sized spiders that are commonly found in the home. These spiders spin webs in dark, isolated corners of your house and live out the majority of their lives there. Often, these spiders are so small that they can go unnoticed, but they can actually be beneficial. Cobweb spiders are great at catching flying insects that get inside your home such as:

House flies
Beetles
Moths
Mosquitoes
Bees and wasps

Funnel Weavers

A funnel weaver spider is typically brown or grayish in color with a body measuring 1/3 to 2/3 inches in length. Instead of traditional webs, these spiders make funnels out of silk that are usually built near the ground or between tight spaces. When unsuspecting prey walks by, the spider races out, captures it, and pulls it back into the funnel to eat. Funnel weaver spiders typically feed on small insects such as beetles, grasshoppers, and crickets.

Orb Weavers/Garden Spiders

Orb weavers are intimidating because of their size but they are harmless to humans. Orb weavers are one of the larger families of spiders you are likely to encounter. Orb weavers feed on all types of flying insects and any other insect that happens to get trapped in their large webs. They usually build their web in:

Gardens
In bushes
Under downspouts
Pavilions and Pergolas

Brown Recluse

The brown recluse is a potentially dangerous spider if you encounter one. These spiders are large with brown bodies and can be identified by the black “violin” mark on their abdomen. The brown recluse builds small webs in dark, out of the way places where humans rarely tread such as:

Basements
Attics
Crawl Spaces

Brown recluse spiders rest during the day in a dark, secluded area where they remain until night when they come out in search of food. Although they aren’t usually aggressive and tend to avoid humans as much as possible, they will bite if they feel threatened. The bite of a brown recluse can be one of the most painful of all spider bites. The venom can cause skin cells to die in the area around the bite, causing the skin to turn black and rot. If immediate medical attention is not sought, it can lead to infection, and in rare cases death.

Black Widow

Black widow spiders are probably the most recognizable spider species in North America due to their red hourglass on their abdomen. The webs of black widow spiders appear messy in appearance and are stronger than those of other spiders. Typically, black widow spiders are nocturnal and prefer to remain hidden most of the time. As their name suggests, Black widows are solitary spiders and tend to live in areas of the home with the least amount of human activity.

Despite their venom’s potency, they are not aggressive animals and will only bite if threatened. However, if you see a black widow spider in your home, call a professional pest control company immediately.

Wolf Spider

Wolf spiders are found throughout North America and are one of the largest common spiders you can find in your home. Wolf spiders do not spin webs; instead they use their long legs to chase down their prey like a wolf. They are usually gray, brown, black, or tan with dark brown or black markings on their body.

Wolf spiders can usually be found in dark spaces such as basements and attics. They are nocturnal, which means they only hunt at night and are rarely seen by humans. They have excellent night vision and wait for ground-dwelling insects and other spiders to happen by then they chase them down and devour them. North American wolf spiders will bite if provoked, but their bites are harmless to humans.

Call The Spider Control Experts at SOS Exterminating

At SOS Exterminating we have over 80 years of experience in spider control and pest control. We understand that not everyone enjoys spiders in their home, especially venomous ones. If you are having trouble with spiders or any other pest invading your home, call us today at 480-571-1437 or leave us a message on our site.